Fuse plug



E. A. PRIEBE Oct. 17, 1933.

FUSE PLUG Filed May 18, 1932 attowu o.

Patented Oct. 17, 1933 PATENT oFFics UNITED STATES 3 Claims.

This invention aims to provide a fuse plug which is inexpensive and freeof mechanical complications, a quick reloading of the plug beingpossible, since both ends of the fuse link are engaged by a singleclamp, which may be of various kinds.

'} Itis within the province of the disclosure to improve generallyand toenhance the utility of devices of that type to which the inventionappertains.

' With the above and other objects in view, which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention resides in the combination andarrangement of parts and. in the details of construction hereinafterdescribed and claimed, it being understood that changes in the preciseembodiment of the invention herein disclosed, may be made within thescope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figf 1 shows, in top plan, a fuse plug constructed in accordance withthe invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section;

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan of the cap;

Fig. 5 is a plan of the fuse link.

The' fuse plug forming the subject matter of this application comprisesa hollow, tubular body 1, including a tubular neck'2, the neck having anoutwardly projecting end wall 3, in which there is a small opening 4.The body 1 includes an enlarged head 5 having an opening 6, which,preferably, is of about the same diameter as the internal diameter ofthe neck 2. The opening 6 has oppositely disposed, lateral extensions'7, prolonge'dinto the head 5, and these extensions 7 of the opening 6form internal transverse shoulders 8 in the head 5, the shoulders 8being arranged at right angles to the axis of'the body 1. In one of theshoulders 8, at the outer end thereof, there is a seat 9, arrangedparallel to the axis of the body 1, and the opposite shoulder 8 has acorresponding seatll). There is a hole 11 in one side of the neck 2, andon the outer surface of the neck there is a longitudinal groove 12 whichcommunicates with the hole ll.

The numeral 14 marks a conducting member, disposed within the neck 2 andextended through opening 4-. in the end wall 3 of the neck, theconducting member being bent over at its outer to form a spring tongue15, arranged at an obtuse angle to the-conducting member 14, and locatedoutside of the end wall 3 of the neck 55 2. The conducting member 14 hasan arm 16 arranged at an obtuse angle to the member 14, and resting onone of the shoulders 8, the arm 16 having a rectangular finger 1'7,engaged in the seat 10, to aid in holding the conducting member 14 inplace.

A conducting strip l8is arranged opposite to the conducting member 14and extends along the inner wall of the neck 2. At its lower end,referring to Fig. 3, the conducting strip 18 has a hook 19, extendedthrough the hole 11 in the neck 2, and upwardly in the groove 12 on theoutside of the neck. The outer portion of the hook 19 of the conductingstrip 18 is in contact with a conductingshell 20, threaded on the outersurface of the neck 2, and also threaded for en gagement with the socket(not shown). The con ducting strip 18 has a rectangular arm 21 whichextends along one of the shoulders 3, and the arm 21 terminates inarectangular finger 22, disposed parallel to the strip 18, and engagedin the seat 9, to aid in holding the conducting strip 18 in place. Itwill be obvious that the conducting member 14, including the tongue 15,constitutes one contact terminal of the plug, the conducting strip 18and the shell 20 constitutingrthe other contact terminal of the plug.

A fuse link 23is provided, and may be of many different constructions.As shown, the fuse link 23 has enlarged ends 24 connected by a reducedneck 25. The ends 24 of the fuse link 23 rest 35 removably on the arm 16of the contact member 14;, and on the arm 21 of the contact member 18.

A cap 26 is provided, and, like the body 1, is made of insulatingmaterial. The cap 26 is so shaped as to fit in the opening 6 of the head5 of the body 1, and has lateral proections 2'7, fitting in the lateralextensions 7 of the opening 6. The projections 2'? of the cap 26 bearupon the ends 24 of the fuse link 23, and hold the ends of the fuse linkin contact with the arm 16 of the conducting member 14, and in contactwith the arm 21 of the conducting strip 18. The upper surface of the cap26 is convexed outwardly, as shown at 28. In the lower surface of thecap 26 there is a central recess 29, located immediately above thereduced neck 25 of the fuse link 23. In the lower surface of the cap 26there are oppositely disposed seats 30, located partly in theprojections 27 of the cap. In the seats 30, compression springs 31 aremounted, and these springs bear on the ends 24 of the fuse link 23, andaid in keeping the ends 24 of the fuse link engaged with the arm 21 ofthe conducting strip 18 and with the arm 16 of the conducting member 14,

especially if the cap 26 does not seat on the ends of the fuse link 23,which is something that may happen due to irregularities in manufacture,or to the presence of dirt, or to the fact that the cap binds in theopening 6 of the body. The springs 31 have another function which willbe made manifest hereinafter.

In the head 5 of the body 1, externally of the neck 3, a pivot element32 is mounted. The pivot element 32 retains a convexed pressure springor clamp 33, having an O-shaped finger piece 34 bearing on the convexedsurface 28 of the cap 26. The finger piece 34, of course, may be of anydesired form. The pressure spring 33 is mounted to swing laterally onthe pivot element 32.

In practical operation, the spring 33 is swung to one side, the cap 26is raised by the strips 31 until the cap can be grasped by the fingersand taken out, the fragments of the burned-out fuse are shaken out ofthe body 1, the new fuse is inserted, and the parts are restored to theposition oi Fig. 3, the end 34 of the spring 33 sliding from the endsurface of the head 5 upon the smooth upper surface of the cap 26, themarginal portion of the upper surface of the cap being substantiallyflush with the end surface of the head 5.

The device is characterized by marked simplicity and is capable of quickreloading, especially in view of the fact that both ends 24 of the fuselink 23 are engaged at once by the cap 26, which forms part of the meansfor clamping the fuse link in place.

What is claimed is:

1. A fuse plug comprising a body having in one end an opening which isprovided with oppositelydisposed, outwardly-projecting extensions thatform internal shoulders disposed approximately at right angles to thelongitudinal axis of the body, conducting members located partly withinthe body and provided with outwardly-extended arms located in theextensions and on the shoulders, a fuse link having its ends located inthe extensions and upon the arms of the conducting members, a capfitting in the opening and having oppositely-disposed projectionsfitting in the extensiom and overlapping the ends of the fuse link, thecap having a smooth outer surface, the marginal portion of which issubstantially flush with the outer end surface of the body, and a springclamp pivoted to said end of the body, one

end of the clamp being slidable from said outer end surface of the bodyupon said outer surface of the cap, and compression springs mounted onthe cap and bearing on the ends of the fuse link, the compressionsprings having a double function, in that they tend to keep the ends ofthe fuse link engaged with the arms of the conducting member and alsoact as lifting springs for the cap, when the arm is swung free from thecap, the engagement of the projections of the cap in the extensions ofthe opening of the body preventing the cap from rotating and therebymaintaining the compression springs in engagement with the ends of thefuse link.

2. The fuse plug of claim 1, further characterized by seats in the body,at the outer ends of the extensions and arranged substantially parallelto the longitudinal axis of the body, the arms having angular fingersreceived in the seats and holding the conducting members in place beforethe cap is mounted in the opening and whilst the conducting members arebeing made electrically accessible from without the body.

3. A fuse plug comprising a body having in one end an opening which isprovided with oppositelydisposed, outwardly-projecting extensions thatform internal shoulders disposed approximately at right angles to thelongitudinal axis of the bggy, conducting members located partly withinthe body and provided with outwardly extended arms located in theextensions and on the shoulders, a fuse link having its ends located inthe extensions and upon the arms of the conducting members, a capfitting in the opening and having oppositely-disposed projectionsfitting in the extensions and overlapping the ends of the fuse link, thecap having a smooth outer surface, the marginal portion of which issubstantially flush with the outer end surface of the body, and a springclamp pivoted to said end of the body, one end of the clamp beingslidable from said outer end surface of the body, upon said outersurface of the cap, and cap-lifting compression springs mounted on thecap and bearing on the ends of the fuse link, to aid in holding the endsof the fuse link engaged with the arms of the conducting members.

ERNEST ADOLPH PRIEBE.

